Vacuum flash distilling apparatus



July 28, 1970 C. W. GALUSKA VACUUM FLASH DISTILLING APPARATUS FiledApril 18. 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet l Fig./ f rl- VAPOR 36 OUTLET f:fcouozusmc sacnom 30 f, j a

34 7 SALT CONDENSATE 22 OUTLET WATER (BRING DlSCHARGE-L "52 w FRESH j I.20 26''" WATER 54 HEATER EVAPORATOR w 42 l ENGINE q/COOLANT w 56 x w/44 l i T w zmaxT sa T J a ENG\NE .5

LIQUID-LEVEL CHECTK VALVE DISTILLED WATER Charles W. Ga/uska INVENTOR.

July 28, 1970 c. w. GALUSKA 3,522,150

VACUUM FLASH DISTILLING APPARATUS Filed April 18, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 23 T Fig. 2 56 76 3 km 2 k 78 Charles W. Ga luska INVENTOR.

Y 9mm United States Patent 3,522,150 VACUUM FLASH DISTILLING APPARATUSCharles W. Galuska, San Jose, Calif., assignor of fifty percent to LouisEdwards, San Jose, Calif.

Filed Apr. 18, 1968, Ser. No. 722,420 Int. Cl. B01d 3/06; C02b 1/06 US.Cl. 202-235 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relatesto a distillation apparatus and more particularly to an enginedistilling apparatus of the vacuum operated flash type.

Portable distilling apparatus powered by an internal combustion enginefor recovering distilled water from salt water sources or the like, iswell known. One method utilized in connection with such apparatus is topartially evaporate the salt water and conduct it to a low pressureregion within a flash tank in order to further convert the partiallyevaporated salt water into a mixture of vapor and liquid free of thesalt and other contaminants. Separate liquid and vapor phases are thenwithdrawn from the flash tank unit under a vacuum pressure establishedwithin a condenser to which the outlets of the flash tank unit areconnected. The liquid and vapor condensate may then be withdrawn fromthe condenser and collected as the product distillate. The condenservacuum pressure may be established by means of a vacuum pump driven bythe internal combustion engine.

In order to partially evaporate the salt water or raw liquid beingprocessed, the coolant of the engine cooling system is utilized as asource of heat. In accordance with the present invention however, theheat absorbed by the engine coolant is increased by means of ahydrodynamic brake mechanism through which the coolant is passed. Thus,the engine driven distilling apparatus may be brought to an operatingcondition more rapidly and may be operated more elficiently.

An important object of the present invention therefore is to provide anengine driven distilling apparatus in which the heat absorbed by theengine coolant is utilized as a source of heat for partially evaporatingthe raw liquid being processed. The improvement of the present inventionresides in the provision of a hydrodynamic brake driven by the engineand utilizing the engine coolant as the energy absorbing fluid operativeto retard or load the engine.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view showing the system of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view through the hydrodynamic brake deviceassociated with the apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially through aplane indicated by section line 3-3 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially through aplane indicated by section line 4-4 in FIG. 2.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, FIG. 1 illustrates indiagrammatic form, the apparatus of the present invention generallyreferred to by reference numeral 10. The apparatus is powered by aninternal combustion engine 12 from which a power output shaft 14extends. The engine 12 is of any well known commercial type such as adiesel engine having cylinder cooling facilities in the form of a liquidcoolant circulating system. Thus, a coolant in let conduit 16 isconnected to the engine block for supply of a liquid coolant such aswater to the engine cooling jacket from which heated coolant isconducted through the outlet conduit 18 also connected at a suitablelocation to the engine block. In the usual engine installation, theinlet and outlet conduits 16 and 18 circulate the cooling water througha radiator in order to remove the heat. In accordance with the presentinvention however, the cooling water is circulated through a heaterevaporator type of heat exchanger 20 to which the inlet conduit 16 isconnected. Accordingly, after heat is removed from the cooling waterwithin the heater evaporator 20, it is returned by conduit 16 at areduced temperature to the cooling jacket of the engine 12 within whichit is heated once again. The heat abson'bed by the cooling water in theengine is transferred within the heater evaporator 20 to the liquidbeing processed such as salt water conducted from the source 22 throughthe heat transfer tubes 24 of the heater evaporator. Thus, the saltwater is partially evaporated within the heater evaporator as it isconducted in heat exchange relation to the heated coolant supplied byconduit 26 to the heater evaporator.

The partially evaporated liquid is conducted from the heater evaporator20 by conduit 28 to a flash type separator condenser generally referredto by reference numeral 30. Flow of the partially evaporated liquidthrough conduit 28 is however prevented by means of a thermostaticallycontrolled valve mechanism 32 until the temperature of the partiallyevaporated liquid has reached a predetermined value deemed necessary toobtain efiicient operation of the flash separator condenser 30. Theseparator condenser 30 is of a well known type and encloses a flashchamber maintained at a predetermined vacuum pressure substantiallybelow the static pressure of the fluid within conduit 28. Thus, uponentering the separator condenser, the partially evaporated liquid fromthe heater evaporator 20 is converted into vapor which rises within theflash separator condenser and partially condenses so as to form aliquid-vapor mixture free of salt and/or other contaminants. The liquidphase of the mixture is removed from the condensing section of theseparator condenser through a liquid outlet conduit 34 while theremaining vapor phase is removed from the separator condenser through aninsulated vapor outlet conduit 36.

Also associated with the apparatus 10, is a condenser 38 through whichcondensate and vapor pass in heat exchange relation to each other.Condensate from the separator condenser 30 is conducted by the liquidoutlet conduit 34 to the condenser outlet conduit 40 while the vaporoutlet conduit 36 conducts vapor to the condenser under a predeterminedvacuum pressure in order to induce flow of vapor from the separatorcondenser 30 and maintain the proper vacuum pressure therein. Thecondenser 38 is therefore connected by conduit 42' to a vacuum pump 44driven by the engine power shaft 14 through the belt drive 46. Thus,after a predetermined quantity of condensate is collected within thecondenser 38, condensable vapors conducted to the condenser by conduit36 from the separator condenser 30, will be condensed Whilenoncondensable volatiles are withdrawn therefrom through the vacuum pump44. A check valve 48 connects the 3 condenser outlet conduit 40 to aproduct collecting cham ber 50 within which the distilled water productis stored. The check valve 48 prevents outflow of distilled Water fromthe chamber 50 and inflow of condensate until a sufficient quantity ofcondensate is collected within the condenser 38.

It will be observed from FIG. 1, that the coolant circulating system isprovided with a make-up supply of coolant such as the fresh water source52 connected by means of the T-fitting 54 to the coolant outlet conduit18 and a delivery conduit 56 through which heated coolant is conductedtoward the heater evaporator 20 aforementioned. The engine heatedcooling Water is further heated in accordance with the present inventionby means of a hydrodynamic brake device 58 interconnecting the conduits56 and 26. The brake device is selectively connected or disconnectedfrom the power output shaft 14 of the engine through any suitable clutchmechanism 60. When engaged, the clutch mechanism 60 connects the brakedevice 58 to the engine for retarding or loading the same Whilegenerating a substantial quantity of heat adapted to be absorbed by thecooling water conducted from conduit 56 to conduit 26. In view of theheat generated by the hydrodynamic brake device 58, it may be enclosedwithin an insulated enclosure 62 in order to ensure maximum heattransfer to the cooling water. It will therefore be appreciated, thatthe water cooling system of the engine is uniquely associated with boththe heater evaporator 20 forming a necessary component of the distillingapparatus and the hydrodynamic brake device 58 by virtue of which asubstantial improvement in operating characteristics and efliciency ofthe distilling apparatus is obtained.

Referring now to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, it will be observed that thehydrodynamic brake device 58 includes a housing 64 on which a fluidsealing bearing assembly 66 is mounted for receiving one end of a driveshaft 68 adapted to be connected to the engine shaft 14 through theclutch mechanism 60 aforementioned. The housing 64 is closed by a cover70 on which a second bearing assembly 72 is mounted for rotatablyjournaling and sealing the drive shaft 68 in spaced relation to thebearing assembly 66. A brake rotor 74 is secured to the drive shaft 68within the housing axially spaced by the spacers 76 from the end wall ofthe housing 64 and the housing cover 70. An annular, fluid-tight chamber78 is formed about the rotor 74. Also, pockets 80 are formed in the endwall of the housing 64 and the housing cover 70 in confronting relationto pockets 82 formed on both axial sides of the rotor 74. It will beapparent therefore, that upon rotation of the drive shaft 68, ahydrodynamic braking effect will be produced by fluid within the annularchamber 78. Fluid in the form of engine cooling water is circulatedthrough the chamber 78 by means of the conduits 56 and 26 to which thehousing 64 is connected.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that when the clutchmechanism 60 is engaged, the engine is loaded by the hydrodynamic brake58 to convert a substantial quantity of mechanical energy into fluidenergy absorbed by the cooling water before it is circulated through theheater evaporator 20. Thus, when the distilling apparatus is set intooperation by starting of the internal combustion engine 12, it willreach an operating condition, as recognized by the thermostatic valve32, more rapidly in view of the action of the hydrodynamic brake device58. The distilling apparatus may then remain operative at a higherefficiency and at any desired point in its operation, the engine may beunloaded by disconnection of the hydrodynamic brake device 58 from theengine shaft 14 so that operation of the distilling apparatus maycontinue with less loading of the engine as long as the temperature ofthe cooling water is suflicient to maintain operation of the heaterevaporator 20.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled 4 in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In combination with an internal combustion engine having coolantcirculating means, apparatus for distilling raw liquid havingcontaminants therein comprising heat exchange means connected to saidcoolant circulating means for conducting coolant heated by the engine inheat exchange relation to the raw liquid to preheat the same, separatormeans including a flash chamber for separating partially evaporatedliquid from the contaminants, conduit means including a flow-restrictionvalve therein connecting the heat exchange means to the flash chamber ofthe separator means for conducting the partially evaporated liquidthereto, a condenser communicating with the flash chamber of theseparator means, pump means driven by the engine and connected to thecondenser for inducing flow of vapor from the separator means to thecondenser, distillate collecting means connected to the condenser andthe separator means for receiving condensate, and heat generating brakemeans driven by the engine for heating the coolant.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said heat-generating brake meansincludes a hydrodynamic brake connected to the engine, and means forconducting the coolant through the brake between the engine and the heatexchange means to increase the heat added to the coolant by circulationthrough the engine.

3. The combination of claim 1 including a check valve between thedistillate collecting means and the condenser for preventing outflow ofcondensate until a predetermined quantity thereof is collected withinthe condenser.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said flowrestriction valve meansconnecting the heat exchange means to the separator means is a thermalresponsive valve preventing flow of partially evaporated liquid until apredetermined temperature is attained.

5. The combination of claim 1 including clutch means for Selectivelydisconnecting the heat generating brake means from the engine.

'6. In combination with an internal combustion engine having coolantcirculating means, apparatus for distilling raw liquid comprisingheater-evaporator means connected to said coolant circulating means forconducting coolant heated by the engine in heat exchange relation to theraw liquid, a flash separator means having vapor and liquid outlets,conduit means including a flow-restriction valve therein connecting theheater-evaporator means to the flash separator means for conductingpartially evaporated liq-uid thereto, a condenser communicating with theflash separator means, vacuum pump means driven by the engine andconnected to the condenser for inducing flow of vapor from the flashseparator means to the condenser, distillate collecting means connectedto the condenser and the liquid outlet of the flash separator means forreceiving condensate, and hydrodynamic brake means driven by the enginefor further heating the coolant conducted from the engine to the heaterevaporator means while loading the engine.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein said flow-restriction valve meansconnecting the heater evaporator means to the flash separator means is athermal responsive valve preventing flow of partially evaporated liquiduntil a predetermined temperature is attained.

8. The combination of claim 7 including a liquid-level check valvebetween the distillate collecting means and the condenser for preventingoutflow of condensate until a predetermined quantity thereof iscollected within the condenser.

5 9. The combination of claim 6 including a liquid-level check valvebetween the distillate collecting means and the condenser for preventingoutflow of condensate until a predetermined quantity thereof iscollected within the condenser.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Bethon 202--174 Ewing 20311 XBrown 202-177 Blaskowski 203-100 X NORMAN YUDKOFF, Primary Examiner F.E. 'DRUMMOND, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

